Broken Knight (All Saints High Book 2)

MUST READ!! L.J. Shen latest book

Broken Knight…This book was everything.

Seriously if you only read one book this year it must be Broken Knight.
I’m now sitting here, want to review this book and render it justice but I’m not sure any word can actually convey how beautiful, bittersweet, and heart-breaking this book was.

This book was so well written that I felt it deep in my bones, it made my chest squeeze so tightly it caused me actual physical pain and whilst I cried in book before I can count on the fingers how many time a book made me “Ugly-Cry” and this one definitely make the list… I genuinely had to turn my pillow over so mine was soaked with tears.

Where to even start with this masterpiece? Firstly, I think this is probably the best book LJ has written – Don’t get me wrong she is extremely talented but this book and the emotional turmoil it caused in you – takes her writing skills to a whole new level. This book made me an exposed nerve, throbbing, aching, wanting. It was a visceral read which was almost impossible to put down.

Whilst the story was supposed to be about Luna and Knight it was so much more than that. The characters, both principal and secondary brought so much life to this book, you ached for all of them, loved with them, got angry with them, grieve with them and somehow started to heal with them.

Knight, my beautiful broken boy was such a walking contradiction, angry and sad, Loving and hating, hurt and healing, protecting and needing saving… LJ made him so real, so painfully real – a beautiful boy wrapped in pain, mistakes and good intentions.

Luna…..What can I say about Luna, She was so relatable in many ways, I felt as if I grew with her – She grew so much and through adversity she showed what she was made of- I was so proud of her and again she was only human, a confused teenager who made mistakes and once again it makes these character so multidimensional so real….so true.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot but the story flew very nicely and there was not a down moment. Some of the things I saw coming and yet it didn’t stop me from experiencing them so completely and with a passion that I could barely breath. Some other things took me by surprised.
The side characters as I said brought so much life to the story and I ached for them as well.

Anyway, no words, or review, could really convey how life-altering, heart shattering, beautifully written this book really is. You genuinely have to experience it by yourself to truly see the extend of LJ talent and the powers those words on pages have on you (witchcraft? Probably)

However even if I agree this book is a standalone and you don’t need to read any of the other books to be sucked in the story I would advise you to read Ruckus first – This is Dean and Rosie story ( Knight’s parents) and I genuinely think it would help get even more from this story.

In conclusion: Broken Knight is probably my favourite book of 2019; it shook me in ways that only a few books managed to do before.

50000 stars

Broken Knight is one of the most achingly beautiful books I’ve ever read. After finishing this story, it is even more clear to me how much Shen loves and respects these characters and their journeys. This book swallowed me whole, it’s one of those books that you don’t move on from. It healed me, it broke me, it got inside of me, and it became a part of me.

Ooh my goodness me! Not only am I lost for words, but I’m also in a blubbering mess. Crushing, exhilarating, heartbreaking, I am in awe of Shen’s writing. How on earth she’d managed to convey these three emotions and many more on one page is beyond me. In my book, this is the most addictive read the author has written in the #HotHoles world to date. It’s the second generation’s turn, their family and friendship dynamics are even stronger and although Broken Knight can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I’d highly recommend diving into the Sinners of Saint series if you haven’t already.

Now then, my review is going to be pretty vague since I have no wish to spoil this read for you. Nonetheless, my biggest problem; was choosing the quotes. If I’d highlighted one, I’d jotted notes down on dozens and then I decided most of them couldn’t possibly be copied and pasted as they’re for you to read in context.

Son of Dean Cole and Rosie LeBlanc, Knight Jameson has more hang-ups than one would think possible for someone his age. Shen drove me into the fast lane when all was revealed at a pace which took my breath away. Fast-forwarding and then backtracking wasn’t enough. Yeap, I basically cheated! To put it differently, Shen’s words caused bouts of anxiety I haven’t experienced in a long time.

Knight is beautiful inside and out. His popularity in high school is a given; it’s his for keeps and he does what he likes without overtly hurting anyone. Whom he hurts is himself. However, there’s a couple of people close to him who question his actions and try to make him see sense. His mates are always there for one another, reminding me how clique their fathers’ group was years back. In fact, much to my delight, they’re still in cahoots.

Luna Rexroth, Trent and Edie’s daughter, has a heart of gold. An incomparable generosity for any heroine I have yet to meet in a book this year, she is definitely the one. Getting to know her was an honour. Her handicap was brought on when she was very young, but she’s happy in her world and I died on the spot….a thousand damn times. Of course, as long as Knight is in it, everything’s rosy. It felt to me like they shared a sixth sense when they were kids. How they communicated and how dependent they are on each other left a lump the size of a plum in my throat.

Luna keeps Knight on the right track, subtly grounded if it were. While he tries to protect her, their deep understanding seems to lose its momentum as they grow into adolescence. There’s confusion and both do regrettable things. Emotions are tested to the limit, and I came undone; blinkin’ heck, once again. Halfway in and I wasn’t crying, I was a snivelling wreck and believe you me, I swore at Shen for putting me through the wringer!

Knight and Luna have to overcome their appropriate pasts and learn to accept the present whether or not it’s painful. Through thick or thin, these two are dynamite together.

Shen has delivered a glorious novel, balancing between devastation and elation! I’ve read some good books this summer, but Broken Knight is without a doubt, the one that had the power to make me value just about everything around me. My recommendation! Whilst reading, have a box of extra-strong tissues at hand. Bravo Shen!

‘The heart doesn’t ask for permission to feel things. It simply feels.’

“Not all love stories are written the same way. Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.”

Luna Rexroth, a quiet, caring sweet girl.
Knight Cole, charismatic, athletic and loved by all.
A love story to outmatch the Fairy tales?

Omg LJ Shen did not hold anything back in the assault to my emotions. Within the first few pages i knew i wasn’t just reading an awesome angsty coming of age love story, it was all that and so much more. This is a book you live and leaves you emotionally raw. Luna and Knight do not have either a smooth or bumpy ride to love, they have mountains and earth quakes. This really is a story, written so beautifully, and reaches so deeply into your emotions that i can’t even find the words to describe.
Family, love, hate, betrayal, loss, this young couple had to make their mistakes and grow up to the reality of life amongst other things pretty darned quick. So although i wanted to slap them one minute and laugh the next, there was always a ride or die moment, and this couples story leaves you with no other option for your heart but to RIDE!

It was 6 o’clock am, when I finished reading Broken Knight.
It was 6 o’clock am, when I saw the last words in this story.
It was 6 o’clock am, when Leigh fucked me in the ass without lube.
I was warned. But I didn’t listen.
Now I am wrecked.

I am really hard girl. My heart is made from stone and I never cried on books. Until Broken Knight..
When I was reading this story, I cried. I cried like waterfall.
Leigh chapeau bas.
This story is everything.
This story is fucking masterpiece.

Broken Knight isn’t only a book. It is a challenge. Challenge in reading books. Challenge in life. Luna’s and Knight story is so real. Their love has thorns, pain, blood and hope.
It’s said that every bud give us a full flower.
Beautiful flower. Luna’s and Knight story is like a bud. So much tears to water this love, so much sun to warm this feeling. And in the end we have what we care about. True love. With friendship, honesty and loyalty.

I am writing this words, when my brain is still in mess. I can’t even think how Leigh wrote this story. Her heart must have been in blood while she was writing this book. Broken Knight is the best of bestest her books. Every word, every letter is truly perfection. The second book of All Saints High series is must read by all of us.
It isn’t only a book.
It is a tribute for heroes of hers stories.
For heros from Todos Santos.

This story is an emotional punch in my gut and still I can’t take a breath. I wasn’t prepared for this book. Noone of us are prepared. This book has everything what good book must have: emotional and heartbreaking moments, happiness and deep sadness.

I love this bond between Luna and Knight. It isn’t a simple friendship, neither love. They met many bumps on their road to happiness.
Knight is really broken. He is a lost boy in his life and decisions. He has two faces. One is a popular manwhore with football sucess and in the other side he is vunerable, anger boy with problems.
Luna… I was really curious what Leigh prepared for her. She is lovely girl with dreams. But it isn’t only a dreams. She reaches out to the stars to do this dreams true. She is so strong. For her, for Knight… for both of them. I really love her.

Also I can’t forget about HotHoles. In Broken Knight we can see them in full parents mode. They grown up, but in one way they are still the same, which we know them from Sinners of Saint.

Broken Knight is the best book written by L.J. Shen. This story isn’t only about love. When we read between lines, we can see a hide message for all of us. I truly love this book and when I’m writing this words, I know that in this year I won’t find the second book like this.
In this year?
Wait.
In this decade.
Leigh, chapeau bas.

*NEW FROM LJ SHEN!*

From USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author L.J. Shen comes a new, standalone romance about first loves, betrayal and loss.

Not all love stories are written the same way. Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.

Luna Rexroth is everyone’s favorite wallflower.
Sweet.
Caring.
Charitable.
Quiet.
Fake.
Underneath the meek, tomboy exterior everyone loves (yet pities) is a girl who knows exactly what, and who, she wants—namely, the boy from the treehouse who taught her how to curse in sign language.
Who taught her how to laugh.
To live.
To love.

Knight Cole is everyone’s favorite football hero.
Gorgeous.
Athletic.
Rugged.
Popular.
Liar.
This daredevil hell-raiser could knock you up with his gaze alone, but he only has eyes for the girl across the street: Luna.
But Luna is not who she used to be. She doesn’t need his protection anymore.
When life throws a curveball at All Saints’ golden boy, he’s forced to realize not all knights are heroes.
Sometimes, the greatest love stories flourish in tragedy.

Loved this second chance enemies to lovers romance from LJ Shen!

OH MY MARX THIS BOOK Broken Knight was titled perfectly because this was his book. And you can’t have a book about Knight Cole without Luna Rexroth, these two have been intertwined since the beginning. Both are fractured broken beautiful souls that feel things so greatly but don’t always know what to do with all those big feelings. No matter how messy things get they are like magnets always finding their way back to each other taking their pact of always whenever forever to the very end. I loved getting more of a glimpse also of their families. The Cole’s were such a loving family who were never afraid to hug each other fiercely. And seeing Luna with Edie and Trent made my heart so happy. I was warned that this was going to break my heart and even though I was fully prepared for that heartbreak and I could feel it coming that didn’t make it any less painful, I was a sobbing mess. While Knight is a giant ball of feelings his best friend Vaughn is pretty much the complete opposite. His book Angry God is up next and I am so ready for it!

This book did something to my soul! I absolutely adored everything about it. This is up there with one of my top 5 books that gutted me. The roller coaster of emotions LJ takes you on is like 5Gs – you deal with love, friendship, death, rape, trauma and so so much more. Knight and Luna were always destined to be together but it’s the journey they took that made it so real. I truly felt this book!

Knight Cole and Luna Rexroth have been best friends for their entire lives and he couldn’t be more in love with her but somehow they end up as enemies. Life gets complicated, especially for these two. Knight has addiction issues and a sick mom, while Luna has spent most of her life completely mute due to her mother’s abuse as a toddler. They were each other’s everything, until it all fell apart and now all they do is hurt each other, accidentally and on purpose.

There are moments of HEA where it all falls apart around them, but ultimately this is a story about loss and survival. It’s a sad story with a bittersweet ending and it’s not one of my favorites. It’s well written and the characters are magnificent but I don’t like sad stories so this will just never be high on my list. It’s an excellent book in every way but just doesn’t fit my personal preferences. It’s a must-read for fans of the world of Todos Santos and all that it entails. The Hunter, the first book in the Boston Belles series, also offers an epilogue of sorts for both Knight and Luna that would be a spoiler if you haven’t already read Broken Knight and it’s a happy glimpse into the future, which is great.